Ronda Rousey looks in the shape of her life ahead of UFC 207, but is she mentally ready for Amanda Nunes?

Former UFC women's bantamweight champion's Instagram shots show Ronda Rousey in fantastic shape ahead of her long-awaited comeback, but doubts remain over her mental strength ahead of her Octagon return

By Simon Head

28th December 2016, 4:42 pm

Updated: 1st January 2017, 10:51 am

RONDA Rousey's comeback is just a matter of days away and the big question isn't whether she can reclaim her world title against Amanda Nunes at UFC 207, but whether she's mentally up to the job.

An Olympic bronze medallist in judo from the Beijing Games of 2008, Rousey is undoubtedly battle-tested in the cut-throat, win-or-go-home tournament format of competitive judo.

But despite this longstanding experience in a tough, elite-level knockout environment, Rousey's reaction to her shock knockout loss to Holly Holm last November has raised more than a few eyebrows as she disappeared from public life, only to return with a huge chip on her shoulder.

Living virtually as a recluse, it's taken Rousey this long to steel herself for her Octagon comeback but, despite looking in phenomenal shape in the series of training shots she's posted to her Instagram page, the doubts over her mental fortitude remain.

That's because Rousey has negotiated herself out of doing any media work, thereby sidestepping any questions about her defeat to Holm and her subsequent self-imposed exile.

Her knockout of the hands (well, shin) of Holm is also notably absent from much of the promotional material leading into the fight, which may also have been something Rousey negotiated prior to agreeing to her comeback.

The avoidance of the media and the seemingly revisionist promotional history of her UFC career doesn't look good on a fighter who, at her peak, was the most dominant champion in mixed martial arts.

She's even shunned the advice of her own mother, who was a vocal critic of Rousey's longtime coach Edmond Tarverdyan, by persisting with the much-maligned striking coach despite widespread criticism of his cornering advice - not just to Rousey, but also to her boyfriend and UFC heavyweight contender Travis Browne.

Rousey has seemingly closed her circle and created a siege mentality. Even her acronymic mantra 'FTA' (F**k Them All) hints at a 'me against the world' mindset.

The big question now is whether this is all necessary to bring back the old Rousey who once ruled the women's bantamweight division in dominant fashion, or whether it's merely papering over the cracks and ignoring the flaws that could be addressed.

Her striking and footwork were badly exposed in her last outing, as was her coach's lack of technical feedback in the corner between rounds as the wheels began to fall off the Rousey bandwagon in Melbourne at UFC 193.

Rousey, usually stone-faced and composed, appeared to lose the plot at the weigh-ins, storming towards Holm and getting in her face, then reacting aggressively and throwing insults when Holm refused to give ground.

Then the seemingly rattled Rousey launched into a verbal tirade at the challenger when interviewed by Joe Rogan immediately after the incident.

Then, on fight night, Rousey was outmanoeuvred, outstruck and outclassed by Holm, who applied the coup de grace in the most spectacular fashion possible with a huge left high kick that separated Rousey from her senses.

It shocked the world, stunned Rousey and sent her into a 13-month hiatus.

They often say you find out the most about the great fighters from how they bounce back from defeat.

In the UFC we've seen a great example of that only this year, as Conor McGregor was humbled by Nate Diaz at UFC 196, only to bounce back, get revenge at UFC 202, then go on to capture the lightweight world title at UFC 205.